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At OU Medicine, our mission is leading health care. Our vision is to be the premiere enterprise for advancing health care, medical education and research for the community, state and region. Through our combined efforts we strive to improve the lives of all people.

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The College of Medicine is the largest component of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and is at the center of OU Medicine. Our mission is leading health care - in education, research and patient care.

Take the Hearing Quiz

Hearing loss can occur for many reasons. Sometimes it occurs as people age. Sometimes it occurs after a long exposure to loud sounds. Learn more about hearing and hearing loss by taking this quiz.

1. After years of exposure to a humming refrigerator, people can develop hearing loss.

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Although long-term exposure to certain sounds can cause hearing loss, sounds of less than 75 decibels are considered safe. A humming refrigerator is about 40 decibels.

A. TrueB. False

2. A sudden loud sound such as an explosion can damage the ear, as can long-term exposure to high levels of sound.

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This kind of sound is called an impulse sound. The damage to the ear can be severe. This kind of hearing loss may be accompanied by tinnitus, an experience of sound like ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears or head, which may subside over time.

A. TrueB. False

3. If a sudden loud noise only temporarily damages the ear, hearing will return in about 8 hours.

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The average time for hearing to return after a temporary loss is about 16 hours.

A. TrueB. False

4. More than 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis. Most of these noisy environments occur at the work site.

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The workplace can be a source of noise, but the home is no quiet refuge. Harmful noises at home may come from vacuum cleaners, garbage disposals, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and shop tools. And target shooting or hunting, snowmobiles, go-carts, woodworking and other hobby equipment, power horns, cap guns, and model airplanes can produce high levels of sound for hobbyists.

A. TrueB. False

5. The best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is to wear special earplugs or earmuffs.

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You can find these items at drugstores, and hardware and sporting goods stores.

A. TrueB. False

6. Children don't need to be as careful of loud noises as adults.

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Anyone at any age can develop noise-induced hearing loss. About 15 in every 1,000 people under age 18 have some hearing loss. And children may not realize the need to put on protective ear equipment when exposed to loud noise. Studies show that the noise of electronic media used by children and teens is often louder than what is allowed in a workplace. One in 6 teens has high-frequency hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noises such as music played through earphones. The American Academy of Pediatrics now advises that children have a hearing screen at ages 11 to 14, again at 15 to 17, and again at 18 to 21.

A. TrueB. False

7. For people who develop noise-induced hearing loss, medicine can reverse the damage.

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Currently, treatment can reverse this type of hearing loss. Parents can help prevent hearing loss by teaching children and teens safe listening habits. This includes taking breaks after an hour of listening, making certain they can hear conversations while listening to music with ear phones, and checking how their ears feel after using ear phones. If their ears "feel funny" after using earphones or earbuds, the volume is too loud. If you can hear the music your child is listening to on their earphones, the volume is too loud.

A. TrueB. False

8. It's often difficult for a person exposed to long-term high noise levels to realize that a hearing loss has occurred.

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That's because the symptoms of this type of hearing loss increase gradually. Sounds may become distorted or muffled. It may be difficult for the person to understand speech. The individual may not be aware of the loss, but it can be detected with a hearing test.